Long Road To Freedom is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the LGBTQ movement during the 20th century. It provides a comprehensive timeline of the most important events in the struggle for equality in the United States for a historically persecuted minority. Many of the numerous entries in Long Road were compiled from articles originally published in The Advocate which has been the leading source of culture, history, and news for the LGBTQ community since 1967. Long Road also contains compelling stories from those of our community describing events in their lives from when society was much less accepting than it is today.
Long Road, much like The Advocate where much of the material for this volume was derived from offers many positive images of the LGBTQ movement and helps to dispel negative stereotypes which heterosexuals justified to demean us. This timeline of this publication begins in 1967-68, just a year or so before the Stonewall riots occurred in New York City which marked the start of the modern gay rights revolution in June, 1969. The riot at the Stonewall Inn gay bar which erupted on the night of June 28th – was the result of simmering resentment pent up over many years of constant harassment and persecution that gays suffered at the hands of city government and the police.
Of all the indelible stories shared in this book, one of my favorites is about Leonard Matlovich (1943-1988). He was a Vietnam War veteran who had been the recipient of both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He also became the first gay man to voluntarily come forward and out himself as a homosexual to his commanding officer on March 6, 1975. Matlovich was angry about the unjust ban on gays in the military and was hoping to somehow overturn that. To say that this was an incredibly bold and brave act for a gay man during this era – would be huge understatement to say the least! The media firestorm for Matlovich began on Memorial Day, 1975 when his story was front page news in the New York Times and was also highlighted on the CBS News at the same time.
He also made the cover of TIME magazine that year – the first time an openly gay person was ever so prominently featured on a mass media publication. The frenzy of attention Matlovich received as a major figure in the gay liberation movement eventually took a heavy toll on him. This must be understood in context. The furor which surrounded him was quite considerable – and this when social media still was unknown. In any case, despite the ensuing legal battles which followed and even with his sterling record of twelve years in military service service, Matlovich was discharged from the service under Honorable conditions. No doubt, the five years of back-and-forth lawsuits for reinstatement to the Air Force (which ultimately failed) irreparably damaged any further career opportunities that he could have otherwise pursued…had he remained closeted.
After this ordeal Matlovich often worked with other gay activists to fight discrimination in other aspects of life, but regrettably wasn’t always appreciated by some in the gay community who thought that he didn’t orient himself far “left” enough on the political spectrum. However, he continued to work for gay rights causes and HIV/AIDS education throughout the 1980s until his death from complications of the virus in 1988. Nonetheless, he was one the more instrumental figures of the 20th century to help LGBT attain some semblance of equal rights with mainstream society in the United States.
